Maljukgeori janhoksa

Once Upon a Time in High School is poet-director Yu Ha's third feature and this time he chooses to tread a very different territory than his previous works, exploring the culture of violence in Corea via the lens of high school during the 1970s.

The story concerns a recent transferee to a new high school, Hyunsu, who quickly makes friends with the class tough guys. Complications arise when his crush and his new best friend end up liking each other. Add this to rivalries, belligerent teachers, administrators and a general culture of violence and you have a setup for enormous amounts of frustration and violence begetting more violence. Oh, and Bruce Lee. Not the actual Bruce Lee, but there's quite a bit of Bruce Lee in this film, as his star was bright at the time.

The story has several threads, but because it's so well weaved together, you never really get lost and although towards the end of the film, most of the plot elements vanish, I think it works well in this film, showing how a system of violence slowly drags its victims into reproducing that same violence, causing everything else to be lost. And yet, while the film criticizes the violence, it also seems to be glorifying the violence at the same time, which you can see in a number of rather impressive fight sequences (including two crazy rooftop rumbles). Clearly this is a complicated, but still nostalgic look back at the days of high school.

One thing that really impressed me was Kwon Sang Woo's performance as Hyunsu, especially that he handled a great deal of the stunts and fighting himself. But, he also did really well portraying a rather meek character and I liked his chemistry with his cohort, Wooshik, played by Lee Jungjin. In fact, most of the players do a pretty decent job with their roles. The setting is well articulated, the period dress is great and the technical aspects of the film are top notch.

I have to say this is a worthwhile film to watch, both for the seemingly honest look at a violent time in Corean history that still hasn't worked its way out of the culture, but also for its exploration of its impact on the people. The thing I like about Yu's films are that, despite their often critical gaze, is that they at the same time have some sort of respect as well. Once Upon a Time in High School is a decent watch. Martial combat lovers get that, ladies at least get some eye candy and in all that is still a rather decent story about the hardships of high school, first love and the difficulties faced in friendship. 8/10.

First i must say this movie is a very good movie for many reasons.Actually it reminds me of my high school days not so long ago(the strict disciplined boys' school,prefects,uniforms,short hair,physical punishment,fights,evening tutorial classes,uncertainty of future,deprivation of female contact ;)) The similarities are more because the story is set in the time period when south Korea was still developing as a country. I think its a universal issue because the students, as young adults are crushed by the pressure for survival, the uncertainty of their future and the cut throat competition for higher education and success.I think they are more common in developing countries.

And for action i must say that they have done a fantastic job.The last fight scene was a work of art(a realistic poem in motion plus the blood and the dirt). who said the hero must win without a scratch?(the last man standing wins)

This movie reminded me a little of highschool actually... well almost anyways. I'm having a hard time figuring out if this movie was suppose to be a love story or a martial arts movie.

The story is about a boy who idols Bruce Lee, he ends up going to military school and gets himself into trouble here and there, but also meets a girl he really likes who rides the same bus. Long story short he goes through the teenage years. Girls, dancing, fights, friends and school. I would've probably enjoyed the movie more if the subtitles were properly timed though... One thing that a liked in particular were the fight scenes. I don't know about everyone else, but I get a little tired of our western movies where the hero beats up a hundred people by himself. Good story, good action, and nice music. 7.5/10

Surprisingly good coming of age movie about a young adult / teenager in military school in South Korea, and the bullying, unrequited love, parental pressures etc that has to deal with. The movie gradually hooks you in - the characters are endearing and believable - and its surprisingly touching. There are some Blue Lee elements in it but isn't a "kung fu" movie. Although the film is set in Korea, its crosses cultures very easily - this could easily be a school in the US for example. If you want an intelligent, touching, coming of age movie with characters that you can relate to, and well as some occasional action to crank up the tension, this is well worth watching. 8/10

I felt this movie was awesome.People described it as the experience faced by highscoolers during the military regime days of south Korea but for me it was different.It seemed like a well sketched out story spiced up with some really good and brutally realistic martial art seqences.The transformation undergone by every character is depicted realistically.It is a story of friendship,first love,betrayal and revenge.And the final scene on the roof with nanchakus tops it all...a brilliantly realistic close combat scene...you can watch the entire movie just for that one scene.Excellent performances throughout."spirit of jeet kune do" is a winner all the way.

P.S. By the way am i the only non-korean seeing and reviewing all of the great south korean films like taegukgi,marathon,failan etc.I would be happy if this movie gets a broader international release,at least to American audiences.